Green eyes Fellowship division
FIRST-TIME CANDIDATE Shanique Green at age 30 years old is the youngest of the nine candidates vying for the right to sit as a director in the Portland Municipal Corporation in the February 26 local government elections on a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ticket.
Green, who spoke to The Gleaner on Thursday, was quick to point out that she did on-the-job training while working in the office of then-JLP caretaker candidate, Ann-Marie Vaz. Vaz would later become member of parliament for East Portland in the by-election of 2019, following the stabbing death of former MP Dr Linvale Bloomfield.
“I have grown and I have learned a lot over the past four to five years and during that time I worked assiduously in the Fellowship division, wherein I interacted and listened to the complaints (from) the people ,” commented Green.
“It was as a result of the close-knit relationship with the people of Fellowship and the Rio Grande Valley that I decided to put myself forward as a political representative. Having spent considerable time in the Rio Grande Valley among farmers, teachers, construction workers, higglers, and the unemployed, I took the decision that I had to see how best I could impact their lives in a positive way. Farm roads were in a deplorable state, along with the main thoroughfare, and a lack of potable water was plaguing the communities.
“Farmers needed assistance in the form of tools, fertilisers, and seedling, and the people were becoming rather frustrated about multiple issues affecting them. My passion in life is to assist, and after analysing the issues, I held several consultations with agencies, organisations, and the MP to see how best the issues affecting the people in Bellevue, Mill Bank, Comfort Castle, Ginger House, MooreTown, Cornwall Barracks, and Berrydale can be addressed in the interim,” she added.
According to Green, since then, through lobbying efforts, several farm roads have been rehabilitated and water supply has improved. This, she said, is a clear indication that the work has started, but needs the support of the electorate on February 26 to continue
Green will face off with Colin‘ Shaka Fame’ Bell, who is also a first-time candidate of the People’s National Party, for the right to become councillor of the Fellowship division. The seat for that division was left vacant following the passing of then councillor Irvin‘ Louie’ Brown in 2021, reportedly from complications of the COVID-19.